Libya’s NOC Warns Of Force Majeure As Oil Facilities Guard Agency Shuts Oil Facilities

A group of members of Libya’s Oil Facilities Guard Agency on Tuesday closed the gates of the Zawiya Oil Refinery and Al-Burayqa Oil Marketing Company, preventing workers and technicians from entering and replacing night-shift crews responsible for operations, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said.

The action also prevented students at the Oil Institute for Training and Qualification in Zawiya from attending classes, although the gate of Al-Burayqa Oil Marketing Company and the main gate of the Zawiya refinery were later partially reopened, the NOC said.

The closures came amid the continued shutdown in recent days of valve No. 7 in the Hamada area on the crude oil pipeline linking the Sharara oilfield to the coast.

The valve was closed by members of the Oil Facilities Guard Agency in southwestern Libya and armed individuals, halting crude oil transportation from the Sharara field operated by Akakos Oil Operations Company, according to the NOC.

The NOC said the closures posed technical, operational and safety risks to the oil complex and could damage facilities and equipment and disrupt refining and fuel supply operations.

A prolonged blockade could lead to a complete halt of operations at the complex, affecting fuel supplies and state revenues and disrupting the import and distribution of petroleum products to the domestic market, the NOC said.

The corporation called on authorities to lift the closures and allow technical, operational and administrative teams to resume their duties. It also urged security agencies to protect oil facilities, ensure workers can move freely and prevent confrontations.

The NOC said it remained committed to maintaining operations but warned that it could declare force majeure in the coming hours if the valve was not reopened. It said the measure would be intended to protect the corporation’s assets and partners and avoid potentially significant financial penalties for the Libyan state.